2000/604/EC: Council Decision of 29 September 2000 on the composition and the statutes of the Economic Policy Committee
Date: 2000-09-29
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: European legal status, comitology, committee (EU), economic policy

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COUNCIL DECISION

of 29 September 2000

on the composition and the statutes of the Economic Policy Committee

(2000/604/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community and in particular Article 209 thereof,

Having regard to the opinion of the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

The Economic Policy Committee
Committee’) was
122/EEC (1).

‘the
set up by Council Decision 74/

(hereinafter

the conjunctural policies of

The Committee has exercised all the functions hitherto
assigned to the Short-term Economic Policy Committee
set up by Council Decision of 9 March 1960 on coordi-
the Member
nation of
States (2), the Budgetary Policy Committee set up by
Council Decision of 8 May 1964 on cooperation
between the competent government departments of
Member States in the field of budgetary policy (3), and
the Medium-term Economic Policy Committee set up by
Council Decision of 15 April 1964 setting up a
Medium-term Economic Policy Committee (4).

The Committee is provided for in Article 272 of the
Treaty.

The statutes of the Committee should reflect the new
institutional environment created by entry into the third
stage of economic and monetary union; it seems advis-
able to maintain the basic structure of the Committee
while making the necessary adjustments to improve its
functioning and to describe its tasks more precisely.

The task assigned to the Committee shall be without
prejudice to the right of the Commission to formulate
recommendations or deliver opinions on matters dealt
with in the Treaty.

the economic performances of

The introduction of the euro reinforces the need for a
close coordination of economic policies and sustained
the
convergence of
Member States; according to the resolution of the Euro-
pean Council of 13 December 1997 on economic policy
coordination in stage 3 of economic and monetary
union (5) enhanced economic policy coordination should
include a closer monitoring of macroeconomic develop-

(1) OJ L 63, 5.3.1974, p. 21.
(2) OJ 31, 9.5.1960, p. 764/60.
(3) OJ 77, 21.5.1964, p. 1205/64.
(4) OJ 64, 22.4.1964, p. 1031/64.
(5) OJ C 35, 2.2.1998, p. 1.

(7)

(8)

(9)

ments in Member States and of Member States structural
policies in labour, product and services markets, as well
as of cost and price trends, particularly in so far as they
affect
the chances of achieving sustained non-infla-
tionary growth and job creation.

The broad economic policy guidelines and the multilat-
eral surveillance procedure as provided for in Article 99
of the Treaty are at the centre of economic policy coor-
dination; without prejudice to the tasks of the Economic
and Financial Committee, the Committee should provide
support for the formulation of the guidelines and contri-
bute to the multilateral surveillance procedure in the
areas mentioned in this Decision.

The European Council at its meeting in Cardiff on 16
June 1998 welcomed the decision of the Ecofin Council
and the ministers meeting in that Council on 1 May
1998 (6) to establish a light procedure, fully respecting
the subsidiarity principle, for monitoring progress on
economic reform.

The resolution of the European Council of 3 and 4 June
1999 launched a process of macroeconomic dialogue at
Community level. This macroeconomic dialogue is
aimed at improving the interaction between wage devel-
opments and macroeconomic policies. The European
Council has concluded that the macroeconomic dialogue
at technical level should take place in a working party
set up in the framework of the Committee in collabora-
Labour Market
tion with the
Committee, with the participation of representatives of
both committees (including the European Central Bank),
of the Commission and of the Macroeconomic Group of
the Social Dialogue. The Committee should in particular
organise the contribution of government representatives
to the dialogue at this level.

Employment

and

(10)

The resolution of the European Council of 16 June 1997
on growth and employment (7) called for an enhanced
coordination of economic policies to complement the
procedure as envisaged in the new title on employment
the Employment
in the Treaty, and requested that
Committee should work closely together with the
Committee.

(6) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 28.
(7) OJ C 236, 2.8.1997, p. 3.

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(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

for

the establishment of an
The Treaty provides
Economic and Financial Committee. The tasks of the
Economic and Financial Committee are set out in Article
114(2) of the Treaty. The statutes of the Economic and
Financial Committee have been adopted by Council
Decision of 31 December 1998 (1). The Committee
should work in close cooperation with the Economic
and Financial Committee when assisting the Council.

The Treaty calls for the establishment of an employment
committee. Close cooperation with that committee is
also required.

The description of the tasks of the Committee is to be
without prejudice to any possible future secondary legis-
lation on the multilateral surveillance procedure as
provided for in Article 99(5) of the Treaty.

The Member States, the Commission and the European
Central Bank should be adequately represented in the
Committee. They should each nominate four members.

(15) Members of the Committee should be appointed in their
personal capacity and should be guided in performing
their duties by the general interests of the Community.

(16)

The President of the Committee should be elected for a
period of two years. As a rule, this term should not be
renewable. It should be possible to extend the term if
there is no other candidate for the Presidency.

(17)

The membership of the Committee of officials from the
European Central Bank and national central banks is to
be without prejudice to Article 108 of the Treaty,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The statutes of the Economic Policy Committee provided for in
Article 272 of the Treaty (‘the Committee’) are hereby adopted.

The text of the statutes is set out in the Annex hereto.

Decision 74/122/EEC is hereby repealed.

Article 2

Article 3

This Decision shall take effect from the day following its publi-
cation.

Done at Brussels, 29 September 2000.

For the Council

The President

L. FABIUS

(1) OJ L 5, 9.1.1999, p. 71.

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ANNEX

Statutes of the Economic Policy Committee

PART I

TASKS OF THE COMMITTEE

Article 1

1. Without prejudice to Articles 114 and 207 of the Treaty, the Economic Policy Committee (hereinafter referred to as
‘the Committee’), shall contribute to the preparation of the work of the Council of coordinating the economic policies of
the Member States and of the Community and provide advice to the Commission and the Council.

2.
The Committee shall contribute to the preparation of the work of the Council by providing economic analyses,
opinions on methodologies and draft formulations for policy recommendations, particularly on structural policies for
improving growth potential and employment in the Community. In this context,

it shall focus in particular on:

— the functioning of goods, capital, services and labour markets,

including wage, productivity, employment and

competitiveness developments,

— the role and efficiency of the public sector and the long-term sustainability of public finances,
— the economy-wide implications of specific policies, such as those relating to the environment, to research and

development and to social cohesion.

In the areas mentioned above, the Committee shall, without prejudice to Articles 114 and 207 of the Treaty,
3.
provide support for the work of the Council, in particular in the formulation of the broad economic policy guidelines,
and shall contribute to the multilateral surveillance procedure referred to in Article 99(3) of the Treaty. In this context, the
Committee shall conduct regular country reviews focused in particular on structural reforms in Member States.

4. Without prejudice to Articles 130 and 207 of the Treaty, the Committee shall contribute to the work of the Council
under the Employment Title of the Treaty.

5.
The Committee shall support the Economic and Financial Committee, in particular in keeping under review the
short and medium-term macroeconomic developments in the Member States and the Community by providing analysis
and opinions mainly on methodological questions relating to the interaction between structural and macroeconomic
policies and on wage developments in the Member States and the Community.

The Committee shall provide the framework within which the macroeconomic dialogue involving representatives of
the Employment

6.
the Committee (including the European Central Bank),
Committee, the Commission and social partners shall take place at technical

the Economic and Financial Committee,

level.

The Committee shall be consulted by the Commission on the maximum rate of increase for non-compulsory

7.
expenditure of the general budget of the European Communities as provided for in Article 272 of the Treaty.

Article 2

The Committee shall deliver opinions at the request of the Council, the Commission or the Economic and Financial
Committee or on its own initiative.

Article 3

In the fulfilment of its tasks the Committee shall work in close relation with the Economic and Financial Committee when
reporting to the Council. In contributing to the preparation of the broad economic policy guidelines, the Committee will
report to the Economic and Financial Committee. It shall coordinate its work with the Employment Committee and other
committees and working groups preparing the work of the Council in the areas where these committees and working
groups are competent.

PART II

COMPOSITION

Article 4

The Member States, the Commission and the European Central Bank shall each appoint four members of the

1.
Committee.

The members of the Committee shall be selected from among senior officials possessing outstanding competence in

2.
the field of economic and structural policy formulation.

Members of the Committee shall be guided, in the performance of their duties, by the general interests of the Community.

Article 5

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PART III

PRESIDENT AND SECRETARIAT

Article 6

The Committee shall elect from among its members, by a majority of its members, a president and up to three

1.
vice-presidents for a period of two years. As a rule, the two years term shall not be renewable.

2.

The President shall delegate his/her voting right to another member of his/her delegation.

In the event of being unable to fulfil his/her duties, the President shall be replaced by one of the Vice-Presidents of the
Committee.

Article 7

Article 8

1.
The Committee shall be assisted by a secretariat under the direction of a Secretary. The Secretary and the staff of the
secretariat needed for carrying out the tasks of the secretariat shall be supplied by the Commission. The Secretary shall be
appointed by the Commission after consultation of the Committee. The Secretary and his/her staff shall act on the
instructions of the Committee when carrying out their responsibilities to the Committee.

2.

The expenses of the Committee shall be included in the estimates of the Commission.

PART IV

PROCEEDINGS

Article 9

Opinions or reports shall be adopted by a majority of members if a vote is requested. Each member shall have one vote.
However, when advice or an opinion is given on questions on which the Council may subsequently take a decision,
members from central banks and the Commission may participate fully in the discussion but shall not participate in a
vote. The Committee shall also report on minority or dissenting views expressed in the course of the discussion.

As a rule only members may speak during the meetings of the Committee. In exceptional circumstances the President
may agree to alternative arrangements.

Article 10

The Committee may entrust the study of specific questions to subcommittees or working parties. The presidency of such
groups shall be assumed by a member of the Committee, appointed by the Committee.

Article 11

The Committee, the subcommittees or working parties may invite experts to assist them.

Article 12

Article 13

The Committee shall be convened by the President on his/her own initiative, or at the request of the Council, the
Commission or at least five members.

Article 14

As a rule the President shall represent the Committee;

1.
in particular the President may be authorised by the
Committee to report on discussions and deliver oral comments on opinions and reports prepared by the Committee.

The President of the Committee shall have the responsibility of maintaining the Committee's relations with the

2.
European Parliament, which shall be kept informed of the Committee's work, as appropriate.

Article 15

Unless decided otherwise, the proceedings of the Committee shall be confidential. The same rule shall apply to the

1.
proceedings of its subcommittees or working parties.

Reports or opinions prepared by the Committee shall be publicly available after they have been transmitted to the

2.
addressee unless there are overriding reasons to keep them confidential.

The Committee shall adopt its own procedural arrangements.

Article 16